7 Japanese divers missing off Indonesia's Bali

Associated Press

February 15, 2014 - 8:05 AM

BALI, Indonesia — Indonesian rescuers searched Saturday for seven Japanese divers who were missing off the resort island of Bali, police said.

The group, including two instructors, left Friday morning on a boat they hired for a dive around mangroves in Crystal Bay when strong winds and heavy rains hit the area, said Maj. Nyoman Suarsika, chief of Nusa Penida police.

Bali police spokesman Col. Hariadi initially said the body of a woman believed to be one of the divers had been found. But he said later that no bodies had been found and that all seven divers were still missing.

A list provided by police shows the group included one man and six women.

The search for the missing, involving rescuers, police, divers and fishermen, was hampered by heavy rains and strong winds. It was suspended after dark and was to resume early Sunday.

Nusa Penida is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Denpasar, Bali's capital.